The Kartel
Encyclopedia
The Kartel is a professional wrestling
tag team
made up of Terry Frazier and Sha Samuels. They are best known their work on the independent circuit
mainly within the United Kingdom
.
in KenshinKai Karate
, and Samuels, The East End Mauler, both hail from east London and would begin training at the Dropkixx academy sometime at the beginning of the 21st century; training with various teachers under the watchful eye of Dino Scarlo.
Frazier, at the age of 14 and using the name Scott Frazier, faced Matt Stevens in his first professional match while Samuels faced Kristian Linnell around the same time. It wasn't long before both men were brought together to become the (often heel
) tag team known as The Kartel.
The self professed "Winners" gained a measure of success, winning titles in various smaller promotions while also competing in more high profile UK independents; including SAS Wrestling, and IPW:UK. The Kartel would also tour Italy
with the Italian Championship Wrestling promotion.
In 2003, at the age of 16, Frazier was considered one of the youngest UK pro wrestlers yet he still managed to gained the opportunity to go to Atlanta, Georgia
in the United States
to train with William Regal
, Chris Benoit
and Dave Taylor of WWE
fame.
While Samuels improved on his stiff style of wrestling, the smaller built Frazier began using sport supplements to gain muscle mass so that he could become more eligible for tours Stateside and in Japan
. Sha Samuels has been known to Bench 300 kg in the gym.
In 2007 both Samuels and Frazier embarked on a training excursion to South East Asia to both gain knowledge of eastern training methods, and to improve upon fitness and strength.
The Kartel became IPW:UK
Tag Team Champions
for the first time when they defeated $wiss Money Holding on September 23, 2007 in Orpington
, Kent
. Later, they unified IPW:UK Tag Team titles with RQW British Tag Team Championships to become Unified British Tag Team champions.
In February 2008, the Kartel competed Chikara's King of Trios
tournament in Philadelphia, United States
, teaming with Martin Stone
as Team IPW:UK, but were defeated in the second round of the tournament by the Golden Trio (Delirious
, Hallowicked
and Helios
).
The Kartel stopped working as an active tag team in IPW:UK during the summer of 2010 after Samuels turned on Frazier during an in-ring angle at the "Sittingbourne Spectacular". Nonetheless, they continue to work together in the Frontier Wrestling Alliance
and elsewhere.
Professional wrestling
Professional wrestling is a mode of spectacle, combining athletics and theatrical performance.Roland Barthes, "The World of Wrestling", Mythologies, 1957 It takes the form of events, held by touring companies, which mimic a title match combat sport...
tag team
Tag team
Tag team professional wrestling is a variation in which matches are contested between teams of multiple wrestlers. A tag team may comprise two wrestlers who normally wrestle in singles competition, but more commonly are made of established teams who wrestle regularly as a unit and have a team name...
made up of Terry Frazier and Sha Samuels. They are best known their work on the independent circuit
Independent circuit
In professional wrestling, the independent circuit or indy circuit refers to the many independent promotions which are much smaller than major televised promotions. They are roughly analagous to a minor league for pro wrestling, or community or regional theatre.Specific promotions on the...
mainly within the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Professional wrestling career
Frazier, a 1st dan black beltBlack belt (martial arts)
In martial arts, the black belt is a way to describe a graduate of a field where a practitioner's level is often marked by the color of the belt. The black belt is commonly the highest belt color used and denotes a degree of competence. It is often associated with a teaching grade though...
in KenshinKai Karate
Karate
is a martial art developed in the Ryukyu Islands in what is now Okinawa, Japan. It was developed from indigenous fighting methods called and Chinese kenpō. Karate is a striking art using punching, kicking, knee and elbow strikes, and open-handed techniques such as knife-hands. Grappling, locks,...
, and Samuels, The East End Mauler, both hail from east London and would begin training at the Dropkixx academy sometime at the beginning of the 21st century; training with various teachers under the watchful eye of Dino Scarlo.
Frazier, at the age of 14 and using the name Scott Frazier, faced Matt Stevens in his first professional match while Samuels faced Kristian Linnell around the same time. It wasn't long before both men were brought together to become the (often heel
Heel (professional wrestling)
In professional wrestling, a heel is a villain character. In non-wrestling jargon, heels are the "bad guys" in professional wrestling; the term heel coming from the term take to you heels, which means to run away which heel champions tend to do to avoid losing their titles.storylines...
) tag team known as The Kartel.
The self professed "Winners" gained a measure of success, winning titles in various smaller promotions while also competing in more high profile UK independents; including SAS Wrestling, and IPW:UK. The Kartel would also tour Italy
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
with the Italian Championship Wrestling promotion.
In 2003, at the age of 16, Frazier was considered one of the youngest UK pro wrestlers yet he still managed to gained the opportunity to go to Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
to train with William Regal
Darren Matthews
Darren Kenneth Matthews , is an English professional wrestler, author and color commentator currently signed to WWE and competing on the SmackDown brand under the ring name William Regal. He is also known for his time in World Championship Wrestling under the ring name Steven Regal...
, Chris Benoit
Chris Benoit
Christopher Michael "Chris" Benoit was a Canadian professional wrestler whose career and life ended in a murder–suicide...
and Dave Taylor of WWE
World Wrestling Entertainment
World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc. is an American publicly traded, privately controlled entertainment company dealing primarily in professional wrestling, with major revenue sources also coming from film, music, product licensing, and direct product sales...
fame.
While Samuels improved on his stiff style of wrestling, the smaller built Frazier began using sport supplements to gain muscle mass so that he could become more eligible for tours Stateside and in Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. Sha Samuels has been known to Bench 300 kg in the gym.
In 2007 both Samuels and Frazier embarked on a training excursion to South East Asia to both gain knowledge of eastern training methods, and to improve upon fitness and strength.
The Kartel became IPW:UK
International Pro Wrestling: United Kingdom
International Pro Wrestling: United Kingdom is a British professional wrestling promotion. Daniel Edler is the majority owner, chairman and founder of the company. The company was established in 2004 and since their foundation they have held monthly shows in Orpington, Kent...
Tag Team Champions
IPW:UK Tag Team Championship
The British Tag Team Championship is a professional wrestling tag team championship owned and copyrighted by International Pro Wrestling: United Kingdom and Real Quality Wrestling. The IPW:UK title was established in 2005 and the RQW title was established in 2007...
for the first time when they defeated $wiss Money Holding on September 23, 2007 in Orpington
Orpington
Orpington is a suburban town and electoral ward in the London Borough of Bromley. It forms the southeastern edge of London's urban sprawl and is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.-History:...
, Kent
Kent
Kent is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the Thames Estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of...
. Later, they unified IPW:UK Tag Team titles with RQW British Tag Team Championships to become Unified British Tag Team champions.
In February 2008, the Kartel competed Chikara's King of Trios
King of Trios
King of Trios is a three-night tournament promoted by the Chikara wrestling promotion. The tournament is a different take on the Tag World Grand Prix event that the company is known for annually promoting; in King of Trios, instead of tag teams, there are trios that will compete in six-man tag team...
tournament in Philadelphia, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, teaming with Martin Stone
Martin Stone (wrestler)
Martin Harris, better known by his ring name Martin Stone is a British professional wrestler. He is best known for wrestling under Frontier Wrestling Alliance , International Pro Wrestling: United Kingdom , Real Quality Wrestling and various other promotions throughout the United Kingdom,...
as Team IPW:UK, but were defeated in the second round of the tournament by the Golden Trio (Delirious
Delirious (wrestler)
Hunter Johnston is an American professional wrestler, better known by his ring name Delirious. He is currently wrestling for Ring of Honor, International Wrestling Cartel, Chikara, Pro Wrestling Noah, and Jersey All Pro Wrestling...
, Hallowicked
Hallowicked
Hallowicked is a professional wrestler, who performs primarily in the Chikara, Dragon Gate USA and Evolve Wrestling professional wrestling promotions. Throughout his career he has also worked for promotions such as Combat Zone Wrestling, Full Impact Pro, Jersey All Pro Wrestling, Pro Wrestling...
and Helios
Ricochet (wrestler)
Trevor Mann is an American professional wrestler better known by the ring name Ricochet. He currently performs mainly for the American promotion Dragon Gate USA and its parent promotion, Japanese Dragon Gate. In both promotions he is a member of the Blood Warriors stable...
).
The Kartel stopped working as an active tag team in IPW:UK during the summer of 2010 after Samuels turned on Frazier during an in-ring angle at the "Sittingbourne Spectacular". Nonetheless, they continue to work together in the Frontier Wrestling Alliance
Frontier Wrestling Alliance
Frontier Wrestling Alliance is a British professional wrestling promotion. Established in 1993 as the Fratton Wrestling Association it soon became the Frontier Wrestling Alliance six years later and until 2007 when it lost a scripted inter-promotional feud with International Pro Wrestling: United...
and elsewhere.
In wrestling
- Finishing moves
- Winning Combination (Samuels holds an opponent up in a fireman's carry while Frazier performs his Kartel Kick on their exposed head before Samuels uses the added momentum to spin the opponent for an evelated version of his spinning side slam)
- Signature moves
- Frazier hurricanranas his own partner Samuels to aid him perform a rolling senton on a fallen opponent
- Frazier's signature moves
- Diving headbutt
- Kartel Kick (Yakuza kick)
- Lariat
- Samuels' finishing moves
- Exploder suplex, sometimes from the top rope
- Spinning side slam
- Samuels' signature moves
- Mongolian chop
- MoonsaultMoonsaultA moonsault, moonsault press, or back flip splash is a professional wrestling aerial technique. Much of its popularity in American wrestling is attributed to The Great Muta, despite it being used in North America by "Leaping" Lanny Poffo years before Muta came from Japan.In a standard moonsault,...
Championships and accomplishments
- Catch Wrestling Council
- CWC Tag Team Championship (1 time)
- Extreme World Warfare
- EWF Tag Team Championship (1 time)
- International Pro Wrestling: United KingdomInternational Pro Wrestling: United KingdomInternational Pro Wrestling: United Kingdom is a British professional wrestling promotion. Daniel Edler is the majority owner, chairman and founder of the company. The company was established in 2004 and since their foundation they have held monthly shows in Orpington, Kent...
/ Real Quality WrestlingReal Quality WrestlingReal Quality Wrestling is a British professional wrestling organisation. Len Davies is the Owner and chairman of the company and their sister company, Spectrum Multimedia. The company began as an independent promotion, but soon became an umbrella promotion in 2007 with the self-stated aim to... - British Tag Team Championship (1 time)
- Rock And Metal Wrestling Action
- RAMWA Tag Team Championship (2 times)
- westside Xtreme wretling
- wXw Tag Team Championship (1 time)